Ramirez leads record breakers in ultra race

CEBU, Philippines -  Dumaguete's Meereis Ramirez ruled the 3rd All-Women's Ultra-marathon in record-setting fashion yesterday.

Ramirez completed the grueling 50-kilometer race that started at the Cebu Provincial Capitol grounds and ended at the Alta Cebu Village Resort in Cordova with a sub-5 mark, clocking in four hours, 38 minutes and 27 seconds to erase the previous mark of 5:14:41 held by last year's champion Odiza "Jade" Abellana.

Interestingly, the runners-up also touched down the finish line within five hours. NRRC's Sandra Soliano took the second place honors in 4:43:34, while Jennifer Red Sabela of Cagayan de Oro wound up third with the time of 4:55:05.

Preciosa Sanchez landed at fourth in 5:14:26, dropping Abellana to only fifth this time with a 5:15:18 clocking.

Rounding up the top 10 finishers were Virginia Parajenog (5:15:47), Jennefer Catublas (5:19:32),Wilma Theresa Lugay (5:19:32), Mary Luz Shimizu (5:21:10), and Path Torremoro (5:23:50).

Those who made it to the top 20 list were Melchomelda Kitane ( 5:24:58), Daisy Batac (5:26:58), Maria Glen Pontanar (5:32:20), Maripol Tecson (5:43:27), Joy Postanes (5:46:00), Gilda Velarde (5:48:43), Rowena Duterte(5:50:10), June Marq Ocana (5:54:05) and Ronila Tan (6:01:43).

Senator Pia Cayetano placed 62nd out of the 251 participants, while Anna Loren Gabison was the last official finisher of the Think Tank-organized event after beating the 10-hour cut-off by 19 minutes and 12 seconds. (FREEMAN)